An Afghan passes a shop with images of women with their faces erased in a market in Kabul, on September 2, 2021. afp_tickers
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–This content was published on 03 September 2021 – 06:27
(AFP)
The Taliban continued this Friday finalizing the formation of a government in Afghanistan that will be subjected to intense international scrutiny to see if they fulfill the promises of greater tolerance, especially towards women.
The cabinet announcement was initially expected after the prayer on Friday afternoon, but it will not finally be given until at least Saturday, a Taliban spokesman told AFP.
The radical Islamist movement faces the challenge of going from being an insurgent group to managing power just days after the final withdrawal of US troops after two decades of war.
The caution and suspicion of the international community are mixed with signs of interaction with the new leaders.
The United Nations announced the resumption of its humanitarian flights from Pakistan to the cities of Mazar-i-Sharif (north) and Kandahar (south).
Qatar acknowledged that it was working with the new authorities to reopen the Kabul airport, which is key to getting humanitarian aid to the capital.
In addition, Western Union and Moneygram companies reactivated their money transfer services in the country, on which many Afghan recipients of remittances from emigrated relatives depend.
Also, according to a Taliban spokesman, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has pledged to keep its embassy in Kabul open and to improve relations.
The new Afghan leaders promised a more open regime than the one they led between 1996 and 2001, known for the brutal application of Islamic law and its treatment of women, who were prohibited from studying, working or going out without the company of a man.
– ‘We are not afraid’ –
The focus is now on whether the Taliban can form a government capable of running a war-torn economy and honor their promises of an “inclusive” government.
There is much speculation about its preparation, although a senior official indicated this week that it will hardly include women.
In the western city of Herat, some fifty women took to the streets on Thursday in an unusual protest to claim their right to work and to criticize the exclusion of women from the new government.
“It is our duty to have education, work and security,” the protesters chanted in unison. “We are not afraid, we are united,” they added.
“We want the Taliban to agree to speak with us,” one of the protest organizers, Basira Taheri, told AFP.
– ‘Business below zero’ –
Women’s rights is just one of the multiple challenges of the new government. In Kabul, many citizens were concerned about the country’s economic difficulties.
“With the arrival of the Taliban, you can say that there is security, but business is below zero,” Karim Jan, owner of an electronics store, told AFP.
The United Nations warned earlier this week of an imminent “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan, and asked that those who wish to leave the country be guaranteed.
Qatari Foreign Minister Mohamed bin Abdelrahman al-Thani said Thursday that his government is negotiating with the Taliban to reopen Kabul airport “as soon as possible.”
Turkey also noted that it was studying with the Taliban and other interlocutors to assume a role in the management of the airport.
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